Rome, february 6, 2008 Elections. Game over ! Italian president Napolitano announced new elections, most likely on April 13 and 14 forthcoming. Berlusconi is the leading man in the polls, the main reason for opposing the presidents request to support an interim administration for 3 months to reform the election law. Veltroni, Rome's major and leader of the Democratic Party (whatever this may be in Italy ) is considered to be the main opponent of Il Cavaliere. And what about  our professore Prodi? He is going to retire, politically at least; game over....  

Viterbo, december 2007 - Viterbo airport the third gateway to Rome Recently it has been decided the Regione Lazio will get another gateway to Rome. The Viterbo airport, a formerly small military airstrip will be converted into a full operational commercial airport. It is foreseen that, most likely, Viterbo airport will be used by low-cost flyers. The airport will be in operation in 2009 or the beginning of 2010. This means the number of flights on the Ciampino airport will definitely be reduced substantially. This regardless the recent trail won by Ryan air over the use of the airport in the near future.  At the end of the day the real winners are the people living near the Ciampino airport.

Rome, october 2007 - Berlusconi announces the foundation of the Peoples Party No, he is back and will never the leave the political arena as long as he is alive and kicking. After his brutal defeed at last years election "Il Cavaliere" (the horseback rider) is back on track. It is obvious the other members of his right wing coalition must have had severe difficulties with this type of character. For Silvio no problem whatsoever: I'll found another party, those who follow fine, the others I'll forget". 

Arnhem, apr. 2006 - The Italian dream house To encourage Brits to safe more for their old age the British Government introduced the possibility to set up a personal pension fund, a so called SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension). Introduced in the nineties it had some mayor restrictions. From April 2006 quite a lot of these restrictions are lifted to enhance the possibilities for enlarged contributions to the SIPP fund, up to £215,000 per year. Also it will be possible to hold and to transfer almost any type of asset in the SIPP fund, including contributions made to other pension funds. The SIPP has mayor tax advantages; in most cases all contributions are deductible for income taxes. A SIPP is a legal entity itself, like an Ltd. and meant to create a return on investment, it gives the founder(s) the opportunity to invest in a way that not only is providing for a comfortable future but that can be profited from already. As from April 2006 on it is possible for a SIPP to hold overseas property it brings funding a dream house in Italy much closer.

Arnhem March 2006 - The new law on agriturismo The Italian Government has constituted a new law on agriturismo on February 8^th. As known the regions have the responsibility to adjust the law to their own regional needs and circumstances within the boundaries set by the law. The regions have 6 month to change their existing laws to the new legislation. The new legislation focuses on a much stronger relation between the agricultural activities and the tourist activities. This implies that the legislator expresses clearly that the central activity of an agriturismo is agricultural. It also encourages the produce of DOC, DOP and IGP quality agricultural products. The aim is to increase the quality of the agriturismo branch. A special organization will be created within the ministry of agriculture to monitor this and courses will be organized to support the existing agriturismo’s and the new comers in the branch.

Arnhem, January 2006 - The end of the “sottodichiarazione”?

From the first of January on, the regulation on the registration of property at the Italian Land Registry has changed. The new regulations are an adjustment to the common practice in Italy. To register the property for much a lower value than the selling price has been good practice over a long period of time. The lower price, instead of the selling price, was also stated in the conveyance contract or “atto notarile” of “rogito”. This procedure is known as the “sottodichiarazione”. The buyer wanted it because of the reduced transfer taxes. The seller wanted to prevent or reduce the possible payment of taxes on the net income of selling property. Now the conveyance contract states the selling price as well as the value to be registered at the Land Registry. To calculate the registration value the last registered value is multiplied with 15%. This new registration value is the basis upon which to calculate the transfer taxes. Together with this introduction the government increased the taxation on the net income on selling property from 7% to 12%. These taxes are only due when selling property within 5 years of the purchase.

Arnhem, Jan. 2006 - Brochures

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